Wednesday, April 28, 2010

"Hi, this is Hank Bozo. I just found an old message on my cell phone reminding me to come to my appointment with Dr. Grumpy on March 19. Can someone please call me back and let me know if I showed up for it, and if I did, what we decided to do. If I didn't show up for it, I want to make another appointment. Thank you."

Why not give the poor clown another chance? Make him another appointment. You were free at 9 o'clock on April 1st, 2010, weren't you? Sure you were. Make it then.

Then, here's how it didn't go down: Bozo didn't show up and was not complaining of a constellation of irrelevant symptoms; then he didn't have tests ordered, which he later didn't show up for; then he didn't call your office to find the results of the tests that weren't done. After that, you can not bill the insurance company. Finally, you don't go home, where you will not drink heavily.

This is why I take notes during my appointments. And ask for copies of test results. And take personal responsibility for my own health care. But that's just me. I bet this guy spent an hour or so looking up his symptoms on google, but won't spend 10 minutes to make a few notes about his conversation with you and your treatment plan.

Maybe you should follow the VA procedure of;1. Giving the pt an appointment slip for the next visit when he leaves the from the current one.2. Mail a notice a month before.3. Mail a card to arrive a week before.4. Contact by automated phone 3 business days before the appointment.

Welcome to my whining!

This blog is entirely for entertainment purposes. All posts about patients may be fictional, or be my experience, or were submitted by a reader, or any combination of the above. Factual statements may or may not be accurate.

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